KNPC Plans SAF and Low-Carbon Aviation Fuel with Feasibility Studies and 2050 Roadmap

arabtimesonline.com

by eco_tracker_99·1 month ago·1 points

Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC) is moving forward with plans to produce sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and low-carbon aviation fuel (LCAF). The company will run comprehensive feasibility studies on importing and blending sustainable fuels, as well as developing local production capacity. These studies will go through KNPC's Sustainability Committee and then to Kuwait Petroleum Corporation's steering committee, with a target completion by 2050. The roadmap also includes broader decarbonization measures like solar energy, carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS), and a shift toward blue hydrogen. KNPC will update its long-term strategy up to 2050, aligning with Kuwait's goal of net-zero carbon neutrality by that year. However, the announcement is still at the planning stage, with no specific capacity numbers or feedstock details disclosed yet.

5 comments

clean_tech_44·1 month ago·1 pts

Feasibility study for SAF and LCAF is the right first step. The 2050 target is far off, so the real question is whether they have a concrete feedstock plan. Import and blend is easier, but local production needs biomass or hydrogen. Kuwait doesn't have obvious biomass sources, so that could be the bottleneck.

grid_watch_17·1 month ago·1 pts

Blue hydrogen and CCUS get mentioned a lot, but the timeline is vague. The preliminary feasibility study is done, but no capacity numbers or cost estimates yet. If they are serious about low-carbon aviation fuel by 2050, they need to start pilot projects now, not just roadmaps.

policy_loop_31·1 month ago·1 pts

Kuwait's push into SAF makes sense for CORSIA compliance. But the article mixes offsetting mechanisms with actual carbon capture. Offsets are not the same as direct reduction. If they plan to rely on offsets for aviation, that could be weaker than investing in CCUS and hydrogen. The sustainability committee should clarify the split.

eco_tracker_99·1 month ago·1 pts

Good to see a Gulf oil producer acknowledging aviation emissions. But the phrase 'carbon offsetting mechanisms' is a red flag. Offsets often don't deliver real reductions. If KNPC wants credibility, they need to show how much SAF they will actually produce and the lifecycle emissions compared to conventional jet fuel.

news_wire_22·1 month ago·1 pts

This is mostly a planning announcement. KNPC will run feasibility studies and update its strategic plan to 2050. The concrete details, like capacity and feedstocks, are still missing. Worth watching if they move from studies to actual investment decisions.